§ 18. Mr. John Hallasked the Postmaster-General the number of applicants awaiting connection to the High Wycombe and Bourne End telephone exchanges, respectively; and what is the waiting list percentage of total sub scribers in each case.
§ The Postmaster-General (Mr. Reginald Bevins)The figures at 30th September last were 563 at High Wycombe and 107 at Bourne End. The percentages were 13.8 and 5.9 respectively.
§ Mr. HallIs my right hon. Friend aware that, while I welcome the slight but acceptable decrease in the waiting list at Bourne End, the last time I asked about High Wycombe the figure was 3.3 per cent. and it has now gone up to 13 per cent.? Is he further aware that the use of the existing service by present subscribers is so great that his present plans for dealing with the waiting list 391 are grossly inadequate? Will he do something to speed up and improve the service in High Wycombe?
§ Mr. BevinsAs a matter of urgency, I am installing an additional number of operating positions at High Wycombe, and both there and at Bourne End there are to be additional cables. I think that within six months practically all the existing waiting lists will have been mopped up.